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Spoolswap Sundays
How are you? What are you working on, artistically or otherwise? Who or what has shaped who you are? What inspires you? What do you love? Send a letter to luke@retroduck.com and let me know. These letters inspire me. I hope they inspire you, too. I have often said, “Sundays are for worship and Netflix.”…
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I’ve watched more television in the quarantimes than the last few years combined.
Atlanta (Seasons 1-2): I applaud the ambition, but it didn’t always grab me. Could have been funnier, or at least shown more heart. Stanfield was great, as always, but was most impressed by Brian Tyree Henry’s nuanced performance. Better Things (Season 4): The small moments have always been the best part of this show. There…
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Coyote V. Acme
Another New Yorker piece, in which Wile E. Coyote files suit against the Acme Corporation: “Mr. Coyote states that on December 13th he received of Defendant via parcel post one Acme Rocket Sled. The intention of Mr. Coyote was to use the Rocket Sled to aid him in pursuit of his prey. Upon receipt of…
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A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table
By Simon Rich Mom: Pass the wine, please. I want to become crazy. Dad: O.K. Grandmother: Did you see the politics? It made me angry. Dad: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex. Uncle: I’m having sex right now. Dad: We all are. Mom: Let’s talk about which kid I like the best.…
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The End of Panic
How are you? What are you working on, artistically or otherwise? Who or what has shaped who you are? What inspires you? What do you love? Send a letter to luke@retroduck.com and let me know. These letters inspire me. I hope they inspire you, too. William Sterling is a podcast editor by day, and aspiring (and…
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O gentle and loving St Fiona,
Patron Saint of Self-Isolation, for you I shall fetch thy bolt cutters, for you are forever in my heart, & forever my heart. Amen.
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Took a Statistical “Which Character” Personality Quiz
Apparently I am most like Lady Sybil Crawley from Downton Abby. I’ve never seen it, admittedly. Is this accurate? From a bio on a Wiki I found: Sybil was described by Mrs. Hughes as “the sweetest spirit under this roof.” Sweet tempered, caring, and politically ambitious, Sybil was liked by everyone, despite her differences in…
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Learning to Ride a Bike
How are you? What are you working on, artistically or otherwise? Who or what has shaped who you are? What inspires you? What do you love? Send a letter to luke@retroduck.com and let me know. Here is one from my friend Amber on willing your heart to find a way to rise anew, an excellent…
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Infinite Jest
If, by the virtue of charity or the circumstance of desperation, you ever chance to spend a little time around a Substance-recovery halfway facility like Enfield MA’s state-funded Ennet House, you will acquire many exotic new facts… That certain persons simply will not like you no matter what you do. That you do not have…
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Status Update
Wrote this for Kottke.org, but thought I’d share here, too. Jason, It is Day 16 of Michigan’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” initiative. As long as I am productive, I think I am fine. I take my temperature and vitamins every day. I mostly eat the same things: fruit and/or vegetable smoothies for lunch, chicken and…
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There is a Light That Never Goes Out
How are you? What are you working on, artistically or otherwise? Who or what has shaped who you are? What inspires you? Send a letter to luke@retroduck.com and let me know. From artist/writer Tim Lane, here is one on The Smiths, his days as a Catholic school boy, the convolution of memory and revelation, and…
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What’s Your Mission Statement
Luke, How are you, dear? My mind is currently on auto-pilot, but need to call you soon. It’s cool to hate talking on the phone now so I plan to talk on the phone more. I can’t seem to formulate sentences anymore so need practice. I need to organically run into Bill Murray. I don’t…
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Remember
It’s not all about luck. “In any great outcome, there is a component of luck. Yet if life were all about luck, the same people wouldn’t repeatedly do great things. When someone repeatedly does great things it is because they prepared in advance to advance to recognize, work on, and fill in the blanks when…
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Your Team
Cannot understate how proud I am of the cast and crew of The Dinner Parting. Like at work, like in life, I only want to surround myself with people better than myself. Always build the best team you can: “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got, back when I was 23 and…
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Film: Year in Review (Sorta)
Watched 322 films last year that I hadn’t seen before. I’m usually not qualified to make year-end lists till March or so, but a few from 2019 that stood out to me thus far: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Uncut Gems, Jojo Rabbit, Knives Out, Parasite, I Heard You Paint Houses, Booksmart, Us and…
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Last Year…
…I made a consciousness decision not to post anything negative on social media. I understand the need to vent, but for me, it’s made a big difference on how I view things and how I feel in general. Would encourage you to consider it.
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Life Update
Thank you to everybody that has reached out and asked how shooting has been going. If I’ve missed you, the answer is, hectic. Possibly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I sleep very little, and on the set’s couch because it forces me to get up and be ready bright and early every day. But…
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The Year in Review
2018 was one of the hardest, most challenging years of my life, and also one of the worst. 2019 might be one of hardest, most challenging years of my life, but also one of the best. East Lansing gave me an award for my contributions to the city. Someone deemed that newsworthy. Yesterday I was…